A temporal fracture occurs when multiple temporal fields intersect and are misaligned, this splits the flow of time in a localized area creating a schism where time moves at different rates in the same space. Continued exposure to temporal energy causes the fracture to worsen and deepen. Fractures can both expand in their physical space or in the temporal space, a fracture is uncontrolled even when stable and does not have a definite end-point.
Formation
A fracture is formed by multiple intersecting temporal fields that are not aligned. This pulls apart the flow of time in different places until it begins to emit its own temporal energy from the disruption. This newly emitted energy expands the fracture and maintains it. It is, in theory, possible for a fracture to form in a more controlled way to sustain itself without expanding or contracting in a state of balance. Numerous experiments by Solas Tempus to do this have failed.
Control
The fracture can be controlled by manipulating the temporal energy which feeds it. This is only partially successful, however, since the temporal energy that feeds it externally is only a portion of its sustaining energy. In order to manipulate the internal energy being produced, a containment field is used to reflect energy back into the fracture and thus alter its internal state, this is an imperfect method but can be effective in some situations.
Collapse
Collapsing the fracture safely is complicated, a fracture must be reduced in its internal energy production, usually this is achieved by setting up a negative feedback into the fracture using a containment field. The external energy can then be removed in order to slowly reduce the energy level of the fracture until the temporal differential is such that the anomaly can no longer sustain itself.
Danger
This type of anomaly can cause micro-paradoxes to occur within a local area. Communication transmissions arriving prior to their causal events and the like, normally these events are easily accounted for by minor temporal adjustments and the timeline is only slightly disrupted. However, the deeper a fracture or wider spread it is the more destructive the impact can be. Since time within the fracture an also flow at a negative rate, it is possible for information form the present to contaminate the past. The deeper a fracture, the more intense the effect and deeper into the past and future the contamination goes. Since the end-points are viable, an intense enough fracture can actually cause regions of the past and future to intersect with the present providing temporary zones of different time periods all overlapping. The probability of temporal contamination at that point is excessively high and impossible to predict or control.